D.C. United announced that it has acquired Costa Rican forward Álvaro Saborío from Real Salt Lake in exchange for forward Luis Silva. Saborío will join the Black-and-Red following the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“Saborío has been a proven goal scorer throughout his career, especially in Major League Soccer,” D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper said. “He’s a true No. 9 that will provide an immediate spark to our offense.”

After using a midweek cross-country trip as a reason to field an experimental starting XI vs. the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, D.C. United coach Ben Olsen didn’t hide his feelings about his side’s busy May.

“To turn around come Wednesday, and to fly on Thursday and play on a Saturday, I’ve said it before – it’s silly to ask guys to do that,” Olsen said following United’s 1-0 loss to the Timbers at Providence Park.

Heading into their match-up with the New England Revolution on Saturday evening, Ben Olsen’s banged-up D.C. United side likely would’ve been content with a draw. Facing a Revs side that hadn’t lost at home in nearly a year and preparing to travel cross-country for a midweek match-up against Portland, a road point likely would’ve satisfied United, for the time being keeping them atop the Eastern Conference.